Nut anchor



April 24, 1945. J. R. LEISURE 2,374,548

NUT ANCHOR Filed July l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

` Hmm @y Patented Apr. 24, 1945 t UNIT STATES;

PATENT OFFICE? on 1 etheilparir; A further- 1 object is to providei Va1- readillyr'emovable lock "elementi when E vterm' :ai olinchf annulusf This annulus isfremo'vable byl ti'nsto illiiindfand hold;V a bolt,f'scr'ewor other fas'- tener to prevent loosening. A further ob'jectllstopovide novel andi-improved means-bywvhioh a: series: oi? nut; anchors of the type statedl above canbb'e? mounted:- i-n selected! spaoedi. position', on. a clip-sol*that" a; gangfoif said'I anchors '-canhbesee` eu-redionla-A structure ready for use, still l'further objeetiisi to-lholdttl'ie members: of-al gang off nutlanchor's inf` -limited` movable position1f` over" fastener: 1'receivingf1apertures `in ithe clip' sol` that the' :nuts anni r their1 lcompanion clinch. elements t 25 canlb'e madertofooincide with-lthe-shanksfof :bolts screu/s'fx onir'otheir fastening` elements# l `projected throughtsad apertures; Among` further r objectsare maximum simplicity`inconstruotion;A greater 1 venteorfrommotatmginsanasneu.` miie-partition L- Lanchor shell Ihaving' a; body A, bounded byfa con-V tinuous wall; open* at'its upper andi lower i-ericlsh` and forming a socket to freely receiveandfliold a nutlB' on iotlieriauticle; i saldiuallA andla-rtiixl' 1li ingiengagingpontionsiby hienltherarticielisfp thershellbut preventfrotationr of they-'bowler otheiiffv fastener`1 sec'uredrto their. nutl therimr D .isi-:W112iA expansiblefcatch. resembling: a `split i spuin'g4 oop"y whiehr` engages vinvanzy annulanrgrooven l'5r theyY inner l wall'aof thefshellaboVe'thef-lockr element@ to hold5 i the nut andi lool:` elementA assembledc the nut anchor shells.y The'fwafllbof: the 11i-ut aneh'onl shell nos:transverse` channels: lconne'ctingiwith ther annularf catoli :engaging: groove.` 115i trrecelve l tile'ends` lf'l andi il B-xof c'aitcl1D.fv Theen'dl "Isl oii then catch-'shocks over ai side -Wallnofaione ofi .the 'chanJ-i# Thespringsianmilr oatchil) mayib'e'y'construete" H without i Iend :pieces: -fl 'lA f and? lat? f and?. sprung/into il theeengaging groove l5 r Witlof;Lori@2Witiouiirsiitgl'V thertransvers'e channelsrl @init/he Wa'llcof the Shelly inowhichievent the catchfca'ribe 'removedwbyfprye ing it` loose f-rornf the .ri-ut f anchor -shellrto per-mit thefnutand clinch,ar'inulusy` beingwremoved fromm` withinfthesheuo i f vided with a comparatively thin base 3l) having polygonal sides resembling a square or other suitable angular shape, the pair of longitudinal sidesof which have clip engaging gibs 31 near each corner of the base as will be hereinafter described. El represents a clip upon which a series or gang of the nut anchor shells is adapted to be mounted in position for use on any structure desired such as the pair of plates 22 and 23, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, The clip resembles a band or strip of thin metal or other suitable material having parallel side edges and apertures 2D at suitable longitudinally spaced intervals to suit requirements for locating fasteners such as bolts I2, in position for use. The sideedges of the clip opposite each aperture has a pair of longitudinal inlets 25 with stop shoulders Z'at the opposite ends of each inlet. The inner edge of each inlet is formed with a longitudinal tongue 21 by undercutting the body of the-band. In this manner a pair of parallel longitudinally disposed tongues such as 21 is provided opposite each aperture 20. In use the basel of the nut anchor shell is planted,flat upon the surface of the band with its base inA approximate registration over an aperture and in this position it is held by the gibs 3l which engage downwardly and inwardly over the tongues 21 flush with the lower surface of the bandto prevent the nut anchor shell, with a nut `and lock clinch annulus therein, fromy rotating when the bolt or other fastener is engaged or disengaged.

-The inlets 25 are slightly longer than the length of the base of the nut anchor shell to permit limited ylongitudinal movement of the shell on the clip and the connection between the gibs 3J and tongues 21 is sulciently loose to permit slight free movementl of the shell laterally on the clip. These free connections are for the purpose of permitting the shell being adjusted toV register thebore of thenut and the bore of the vlock clinch annulus in the shell with the shank of a fastener when the latter is applied to clamp the plates 22 and 23 tightly engaged below the clip. The aperture 2U .is larger in'diameter than the diameter of the shank of the fastener bolt'l2, The clip withv a series or gang of the nut anchoring shells is adapted to be mounted in position for vuseon one of the plates, such .as 22, by riveting,y welding or other fastening means, not shown, applied -when desired through the rivet receiving openings, such as 28. Normally the gibs 3l engage the tongues 21 freely without binding and .with their outer portions substantially in alignment with the outer side edges of the band to avoid objectionable. projections.

In use a nut (B), lock clinch annulus (C), and retaining catch (D) are assembled in each nut anchor shell as shownd in. the drawings. The bolt, or other threaded fastener is then applied through the plates such as 22 and 23 to be fastened, with itsV shank tightly screwed into engagementwith the nut and lock clinch annulus.

During this operation both the nut .and clinch annulusare held from turning on the clip by theanchor shell. To loosen, removeand reapply the lower structural plate 23, the bolt is first removed leaving the clinch annulus in more or less worn condition. To replace theclinch. annulusthe spring catch can easily be removed and .ay fresh lock clinch element inserted over thev nut andthe catch reappliedl- In this mannert is not necessary to remove or replace the nut. However by removing the spring catch both the nut and clinch annulus can be removed and either or both replaced. Thus, when desired, the clinch annulus can be placed below instead of above the nut in the nut anchor shellwith substantially equal effectiveness to prevent the bolt or other fastener from loosening while the nut anchor shell performs its functions of restraining the nut and clinch annulus from rotating. By applying the lock clinch annulus independently and separate from the nut, saving is made of material and expense when adjustments are made. j v y `v Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the nut B inthe nut an- Chor shell A is shown resting directly upon the surface of the clip, while in Figs. 5 and 6 a slight modification provides an inwardly projecting annular shoulder upon which the nut and the clinch annulus are supported above and independently of Vtheclip. Also countersunk openings 36 and 31 upwardly through the clip and said supporting shoulder admit the threaded shank 38 and flat head 39 of the bolt upwardly into nut engagement while, the head of the screw may lie flush with theouter surface of the lower plate 23 to prevent objectionable projections.

This construction also permits cupping of theA outer plate at 40 below the head ofthe screw tov provide a more Substantial fastening means for the plate by the screw. In this modied con-V struction, the independently removable clinch annulus for locking the bolt and nut together is also employed. The longitudinal and lateral ad-4 justments also function in this structure as in` the preferred form to self adjust the nut anchor shell with its nut and lock clinch elements juxtaposed into engaging position with the shank of the bolt.

As shown in Figs. 7 to` 9 inclusive, the construc-l tion is similar to that shown in Figs, 5 and 6, ex#` cept that the lock. clinch annulus 4I for locking the fastener, bolt and nut together is split lat.- erally so as to spring into engagement in an Ain,- ner annular groove 42 in the inner wall of the nut anchor shell A. In this manner the use of a separate catch such as D is obviated, thus simplifying construction.l The lock clinch annulus.

like in the construction above described is made out of elastic material such as pressed beror other suitable material and can be formed ,in a` spiral strip cut into single convolutions, .each of desired length to permit. springing into the retaining groove 42, where itis retained. The lock clinch annulus is formed with a polygonal `sided :body 43 corresponding with the ilat sides `of the inner surface of the nut anchoring shellto pre-y vent turning when the fastener bolt is fastened through the nut. The -lock clinch annulus is also formed with a protuberance in the form of an annular shoulder 44 adjacent to itsbody, which engages in the groove- 42 to retain the clinch annulus in the shell.` In this constructionas in the constructions above set forth the'lock clinch annulus has a bore 45 of slightly less diameter' ously prevented from rotating and loosening by-` the anchor shell. .f l In Fig. 7the nut anchoring shell is s1m1l` ar'in construciton to that'shown in Figs. Sandl 9,'eX-- ceptng that the.v shell is-mounted on a flat or 2,374,548 flanged base 4G for supporting it on other than a gang clip.

In the above constructions the bore through' the lock clinch annulus is preferably slightly less volving, the thread tightly engages and impresses itself into the fiber of the clinch annulus. This clinching action which occurs prevents axial .play

and loosening of the bolt on the nut while the nut in turn is prevented from rotating and loosening by the nut anchor shell.

In Figs. and 11 the elastic clinch annulus 50, made out of pressed ber or other suitable ma- Jaerial and having a bore 5I, slightlyless in diameter thanthe threaded bore 52 of the nut 53 is seated in the nut in axial alignment with said threaded bore and is removably retained in its seat in the nut by the removable split spring fastener loop, which engages in the annular channel 55'over and engaging the annulus 50. The clinch annulus has fiat exterior sides 56 and the seat in the nut is correspondingly flat sided as shown in Fig. 11, to prevent the annulus from rotating about its axis in the nut. The clinch annulus can thus be easily and quickly removed without discarding the nut, which isa saving and a distinct advantage. i

In the above specifications, I have described nut, an independent clinch annulus, and a nut anchorshell, said elements having engaging portions formed to hold the nut and the clinch annulus from rotatingin said shell, said portions consisting ofat engaging sides. I have also described a nut holding shell and a clip, said elementshaving portions which engage to prevent the shell from rotating on the clip, consisting of gibs which permit limited longitudinal and lateral movement of the shell to juxtapose the nut over a fastener such as the shank of a bolt. These engaging features may be variously modified within the spirit of the invention to perform the same functions and to accommodate articles varying in shape, type and kind. 1

I have also described the lock clinch annulus as` being removably applied above, below or `in the nut in the anchor shell and said annulus and shell as having cooperating portions for preventing the annulus from turning in the shell. These features may also be variously modified and still perform' their functions within the spirit of the invention. l

I have further described the catch D as a split spring annulus loop normally held in the annular channel i5 and having outstanding arms i1 and I8 which are retained in the channel I6 in the 'outer end of the nut anchor shell.` This catch may be employed without said arms or said channel for holding the nut and the clinch annulus in the socket of the shell. When thus employed the loop can be pried loose and removed from the shell so as to permit removing and replacing the clinch annulus and/or the nut, easily and quickly.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have describedthe principles lof operation of my invention together with the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have :it understood that the structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by Aother means and applied to uses other than those of said band opposite each aperture, each of said` inlets being provided with stop shoulders at its longitudinal ends and an undercut longitudinal edge forming a tongue, and an anchor shell having an open base resting upon the surfalceof said band over each of said apertures and having gibs on its opposite side edges slidably engagedA over the tongues in said inlets and havinglimited movement longitudinally between the stop shoulders to provide adjustment of the anchor shell over a companion aperture.

2. A multiple anchor structure for supporting nut anchor shells, each shell having downwardly and inwardly projecting gibs on its lower end, said anchor structure, comprising, a substantially flat band providing a support for said anchor shells having a series of oppositely disposed pairs of inlets in its side edges, each inlet having stop shoulders at its longitudinal ends and an under-cut longitudinal edge between said shoulders forming a lateral tongue by which the gibs on said anchor` shells may engage-said band and retain the anchor shellsbetween the shoulders of each inlet with said gibs held within the inlets without protruding below the lowermost surface or beyond the side edges of the band.

JAMES R. LEISURE. 

